Lubricating-oil dispenser



jan. 15 y 1924,

R. G. ADAMS LUBRICATING OIL DISPENSER Filed March 22. 1922 HTTORAEYS.

Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. f

RALPH G'. ADAMS, QF FULLERTON, CALIFORN'IA.

LUBRIGATING-OIL DISPENSER.

Application med mmh 22, 1922. sel-m1 No. 545,800.

' jority of service stations of keeping lubricating oils in drums from which the various oils are drawn in small quantities yas they are supplied to motors has not proven satisfactory to urchasers of/ oils, owing to the diiiiculty o ascertaining whether or not the grade or brand of'oil ordered is put in the crank case by the attendant. It is a generally accepted opinion that parane base oils are better for. crank `case lubrication than the oils derived fromasphalt bases. Most motorists-are aware of the superiority of the parailine base oil and, no doubt, would vmake a practice of ordering the higher grade oils were it not for the fact that they do not vfeel that they can absolutely depend upon receiving the particular oil ordered and paid for; therefore, it has become common practice to order the lower grades of lubricating oils, feelingthat in most cases no matter what grade is ordered, they 1are likely to receive the cheaper grades of oi It is the principal object. of my invention to provide a dispensing device, which may be placed in a conspicuous place, having sight columns through `which the different grades of oil are passed and means lassociated with each of the sight columns for indicating whether oil is eing withdrawn from the desired source, thus enabling the purchaser to satisfy himself as to the oil he is actually receiving.

Other objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter from the followingdescription and drawings.

eferring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an oil dispenser embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon a plane represented bythe line 2-2 o Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the air jector employed in the device.-

In the practice of my invention, I employ, as-shown in the drawings, av number of s1ght columns 11 which are vertically disposed .before an opening 12 provided in an enclosing structure 13. VThese sight columns 11 may conveniently consist of lass tubes4 of. convenient length to exten the 'full height of the opening 12. Each-of the tubes comprisin the sight columns is fed with o1l from rums,not shown, through a pipmg system 15 which is made up from standard pipe and fittings and is provided with a shut-oli' valve 16. AA gasketedjamb nut 18 1s employed to connect each of the piping systems 15 to the u pper end 19 of one 4 of 'the sight columns 11, and a jamb .n ut 2O is provided at the lower end of eachy of the sightl columns 11. Leading downwardly from each of the jamb nuts 2() I employ a nipple 21 which connects with a branch iitting 22 having its lateral outlet 23 extending forwardly so that a suitable gate spi ot 24 may be installed upon. theexterior oA the structure 13 and conveniently connected into the lateral outlet 23V by means of a nipple 25 extending through a hole 26 in the front 27 ofthe enclosing structure.

A nipple l29 is threadedinto the downwardly projected end 30 of the fitting 22 and a bell reducer 31 is placed upon the lower end thereof so that a flow of air may be introduced throu h a branch air pipe 35 leading from an airlleader 36.

Upper and lower crossv members `38 and 39 are provided with semi-circular recesses 40, as shown in Fig. 2, and vertical dividing strips 41-are extended from the member 38 to the member 39 between each of the sight columns 11 and a layer of felt-14 is secured upon the front face of each of the vertical strips 41,'each of these felt layers being of sufiicient width to engage the sides of the sight columns between which it extends so that light from rukincandescent globes 45, placed@ ehind the sight lcolumns upon a door 46 provided in the structure 13, can pass only through the sight columns themselves.

In each of the nipples 29 I' place an air injector or nozzle 48. This nozzle prerer-` ably consists of a metallic cone 49 providing I I not shown, is admitted by opening a valve 53 in each of the pipings this air being forced through the orifice 50, passes through the injector cone as, the superimposed tittings, and through the sight column il from whence it passes out through the piping 15 inrfothe oil drum connected thereto which is properly vented so that the air may pass off into the atmosphere.' i

A particular feature of my de vice is the manner in which the air is admitted through the injector i8 inthe form of bubbles'. A quantity of air enters through the orifice 50. in the form'indicated at 60 and as it rises upward course through the sight column il in the iiattened formation shown at 62 .in

v Fig. l.' have found that theadmission ci bubbles occurs with persistent regularity so that a continuous ow of evenly spaced large bubbles is maintained as long as the air is turned on. in order tb maintain a constant pressure inthe air supply pipe 86, l iind it desirable to employ a pressure regulator as indicated at 65. I

c 1t will be perceived'that when a quantity of'oil is drawn o' through any of the gate spigots 24: that a downward movement of the oil in the particular sight' column associated therewith will be accomplished, this downward movement of the oil counteracting the upward travel of the bubbles 62,

column; and means for percolatin causing them either to move slowly downward or to remain stationary, and, in some instances, causing a very serious a 'tation thereof within the sight column. f. y this disturbance of the flow of bubbles within the sight column, it is possible for the purchaser of oil to see that the oil is being drawn from thel designated source, thus furnishin an assurance that is delivered.

A further desirable feature of the device is that it furnishes a very attractive display with the various grades and colors of oil placed before the view of persons who might be interested in the purchase of the saine.

I claim as my invention:

" l. ln a device of the class described, the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into' one end of said sight column' means for drawingo said iiquid from die Opposite @mi of said sight a How of air through the liquidcontaine in said sight column.

2. in a device of the class described, the combination of: a si ht column; means for introducing a liquid' into said sight column; means for drawin od said liquid from said sight column; an means for percolating a ilow of air through the liquid contained in said sight column.

3. in a. device of the clam described, the

just the oil being pai for acne combination of: 'a sight column;`ineans `for introducing la liquid into one end of vsaid sight column; means for drawing off said liquid rom the opposite end of said sight column; and an injector situated beneath said sight column for ercclati-n a flow of air through the liqui centaine in said sight column.

Li. in a device of the class described, the

combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into said sight column;

introducing' a liquid into one end ofsaid sight column; means fior drawing off said liquid from the opposite end of said sightv column; and an injector for ,percolating a dow of air through the liquid contained in said sight column.

6. ln a device of the class described, the combination ci: a sight column; means for introducing a liquidv into said sight column; means for drawin oli said liquid from said sight column; an an injector for percolating a iiow of air through the liquid con'- tained in said sight column.

'.7. in a device of the class described, the combination of: a number of substantially vertical transparent tubes; means for delivering liquids into the tops of said tubes; ineens for drawing said li uids from the bottoms of said tubes; lights ehind said tubes; opaque walls for preventing the passage of light other than through said tubes; and inu v jectors for ercolating a flow of air through the liquids in said tubes.

8. :in a device of the class described, the combination of: a number of substantially vertical transparent tubes; means for delivering liquids into the tops of said tubes; means for drawing said liquids from the bottoms of said tubes; lights behind said tubes;

light other than through said tubes; and injectors for percolating a ilow of air through the liquids in said tubes, said injector providing a conical orifice progressing in diamopaque walls lor preventing the passage of eter from a minute opening to substantially v the full diameter of the passage into which it leads. q

9. ln a device of the class described, the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into one end of said sight column; means for drawing od said liquid from the opposite end of said sight column; and an injector situated beneath said sight column for percolating a flow of air through the liquid contained in said sight column, said injector providing a conical orice progressing in diameter from a miiso of air through the liquid contained in said i lsight column to form a succession of upwardly moving bubbles through the sight' column.

l1; In a device of thecharacter disclosed, the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into said sight col-I umn; means for admitting air into said sight column to cause bubbles to rise therein at a uniform speed; and means for drawing o the liquid from said column whereby 4the rising of the bubbles is disturbed.

l2. In a device of the character disclosed,

the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into one end of said sight column; means for drawing off said liquid from the opposite end of said sight column; and means for introducing air through said sight column from the opposite end thereof.

13. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into one end of said siglitcolumn; means for drawing off said liquid from the opposite end of said sight column; and means for introducing a constant supply of air through said sight eolumn from the opposite end thereof.

14,. In a device of the character disclosed,

the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a liquid into said sight ool'l umn; means for. admitting air into said sight column to cause bubbles to rise therein; and means for drawing olin the liquid from said column whereby the rising of the bubbles is disturbed.

l5. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of: a sight column; means for introducing a vliquid into said sight column; means for introducing a' constant supply of airinto saidsight column to cause bubbles to rise therein; andmeans for drawing off the liquid from said column whereby the risin of the bubbles is disturbed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 6th day of March, 1922.

RALPH G. ADAMS. 

